Washing machine drive mechanism



April 4, 1939 v. E. DUNN WA SHING MACLHINE DRIVE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 15, 1955 ATTEHNEYE EJY April 4, 1939. v. E. DUNN WASHING momma DRIVE MECHANISM 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March l5,

my a Z MZ Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 15, 1935, Serial No. 11,187

Renewed Aumt 25, 1938 5 Claim.

This invention is directed to drive mechanism for washing machine dollies and has for one of its objects the provision of a simple, eflicient mechanism by means of which the power source of a washing machine mechanism is connected with the dolly thereof to operate the same in a satisfactory manner.

Another object is to provide a rotatable memher having eccentric connection with an oscillatable member, said oscillatable member having geared connection with a washing machine dolly whereby oscillative movements of said member brings aboutalternately reverse rotation of the dolly. I

Other objects will appear in the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view showing portions of a washing machine drive mechanism embodying my invention, the view being taken approximately on line in Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 is a. fragmental view taken from line 2-2 in Fig. 3. I

3 Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 with certain parts shownwas they actually appear; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view in elevation showing details of elements to be described.

Figs. 3 and 4 disclose my invention as embodied in a washing machine mechanism which includes a conventional tub Ill, a dolly l| mounted to rotate therein, a vertical shaft [2 by means of which the dolly is operated, and an electric motor 3 having driving connection with the mechanism through a belt l4.

The apparatus would obviously include means for supporting the mechanism and tub, but such elements are thought sumciently well known as to obviate detail showing and description herein.

In accordance with my invention a crank disc in the form of a gear I5 is aiiixed to one end ofa horizontal shaft l6 which is journalled adjacent to the gear in a bearing I'l formed in a housing and support structure I8. At its opposite end the shaft I6 is journalled in a bearing I9 formed in an associated housing and support structure 23.

To the outer end of shaft I6 is secured a mitre gear 2| meshing with a mitre 22 which latter is aifixed to a vertical shaft 23, the latter providing means 'for driving a wringer not shown but which Gear l5, upon its face at the adjacent side of a member 3|, carries a stud 23 oflset from the axial center of the gear, which stud is provided with a roller 23' and is disposed and proportioned to be movably received in a guide groove 30, the sides of which are formed integrally with the 1 body portion of member 3|. *Member 3| is slidably supported upon a horizontally disposed round bar 32 which is stationarily supported atits ends in structure I3.

Integral with member 3| and disposed on one side opposite slot 30 is rack portion 33' which is meshed with a pinion 34 secured to dolly shaft l2. The bar 32 is .round (circular in section) since this provides a relatively inexpensive and .a very simple and eiiective construction. While it permits the member 3| to adjust itself to a certain extent with respect to the gear IS, the stud and roller 29, 29' and the pinion 34, in order to prevent the member 3| from varying from a proper position as respects the relationship between the rack 33 and pinion 34, those substantially parallel portions of member 3| which define the slot 30, project outwardly from the main body of member 3| as shown at 35 and are adapted to extend over and at all times to lie closely adjacent to a side portion 36 of the gear l5. Should the member 3| tend to pivot about the bar 32 to an undesirable extent, contact of portions 35 with portions 36 will limit the movement and will re- 3 tain member 3| in its proper position regaidless of its reciprocatory movements along bar 32. 1

Operation of the device is as follows: Gear-I5 is rotated by motor l3, and stud 23,

carried thereby, slides in groove 30 during the 3 my invention. Modifications of structure are obviously possiblewithout alteration of the principle involved.

I do not wish to be limited in structure or function except within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Means for oscillating a washing machine dolly, said dolly having a vertical shaft and a drive pinion on said shaft, said means comprising a round bar mounted horizontally, a member slidable on said bar, rack teeth on said member engaging said pinion, a disc mounted for rotation and faced toward a side of said member,

, inter-engaging means between said disc and said member for effecting reciprocation of said member by rotation of said disc, said disc and member having mutually contactable portions preventing any substantial pivoting in either direc- H tion of said member on said bar.

2. Means for oscillating a washing machine dolly, said dolly having a vertical shaft and a drive pinion on said shaft, said means comprising a round bar mounted horizontally, a member slidable on said bar, rack teeth on said member engaging said pinion, a crank disc mounted for rotation and faced toward a side of said member, a crank pin projecting from the face of said crank disc, said member having a groove extending transversely of said rack and receiving said pin, said member having portions adapted to bear against the face of said disc to prevent any substantial pivoting in either direction of said member on said bar.

3. Means for oscillating a washing-machine dolly, including a gear housing, a vertical dolly shaft extending from said housing, a drive pinion on said shaft, a horizontal round slide bar, a member slidable on said bar, rack teeth on said member engaging said pinion, a disk aflixed'to a horizontal shaft extending from said housing, interengaging means between said disk and memher for effecting reciprocation of said member by rotation of said disk, said disk and member having mutually contactable portions preventing any substantial pivoting of said member on said bar.

. 4. Means for oscillating a washing machine dolly, including a gear housing, a vertical dolly shaft extending from said housing, a drive pinion on said shaft, a horizontal slide bar, a member slidable on said bar, rack teeth on said member engaging said pinion, a disk aflixed to a horizontal shaft extending from said housing, interengaging means between said disk and member for effecting reciprocation of said member by rotation of said disk, said disk and member having mutually contactable portions preventing any substantial pivoting of said member on said bar.

5. Means for oscillating a washing machine dolly, including a gear housing, a vertical dolly shaft extending from said housing, a drive pinion on said shaft, a horizontal slide bar, a member slidable on said bar, rack teeth on said member engaging said pinion, a disk aiiixed to a horizontal shaft extending from said housing, interengaging means between said disk and member for effecting reciprocation of said member by rotation of said disk, said disk and member having mutually contactable portions preventing any substantial pivoting of said member on said bar, said disk extending downward to the lowermost part of the housing whereby lubrithe disk.

VERNON E. DUNN. 35 

